Although Konoha has been deliberately concealing its recent changes, some clues can still be found in the details, such as the fact that Konoha has recently stopped accepting S-rank missions.
This means that Konoha will not be sending Jonin to carry out missions in the near future, which is the most direct manifestation of its power contraction.
However, the S-rank missions officially designated by Konoha are still being carried out.
Meanwhile, a group of ninjas who rarely appear in public but are all incredibly powerful are quietly returning to Konoha, either joining the Anbu or awaiting orders. In short, Konoha is now in a state of full preparation for war.
This is due in part to Root's powerful intelligence capabilities, and in part to the efficient execution capabilities of Konoha Ninja.
The Three Great Shinobi Villages Kumogakure, Kirigakure, Iwagakure had tried to mobilize their ninjas discreetly, but they still alerted Konoha's Root, allowing Konoha to make corresponding preparations in advance.
Today is the day that Mei Terumi, the Mizukage of Kirigakure in the Land of Water, arrives in Konoha.
To show their respect, the Third Hokage and Sannin, one of the Tsunade, personally greeted the Mizukage.
" The Mizukage's personal visit to Konoha must have been arduous; he must have had a long and tiring journey."
The Third Hokage greeted Mei Terumi with a smile, showing no sign that the two great ninja villages were already preparing for war.
"Hehe, it's not hard work. I just hope the Chunin Ninja Exams go smoothly and that nothing unexpected happens."
While speaking, Mei Terumi's gaze lingered on Tsunade for almost half the time. This wasn't just due to the competitive spirit between two beautiful women, but also Mei Terumi was recalling the heartache of having the Three-Tails taken away.
It was Tsunade, one of the Sannin Tsunade, and that despicable Naoki Senju who stole the Three-Tails from Kirigakure. However, she couldn't publicize it, because it would be a disgrace to Kirigakure and the Mizukage, and Konoha wouldn't kindly return the Three-Tails.
On either side of Mei Terumi were two capable henchmen, Ao and Chōjūrō. Ao's sealed right eye made the Hyuga Clan members behind the Third Hokage grit their teeth in hatred.
That was a Byakugan that Kirigakure stole from the Hyuga Main Family during the Third Shinobi World War, and even now, the Hyuga Clan wants to destroy Byakugan.
Chōjūrō aroused the curiosity of the Third Hokage and Shikaku Nara. The strangely shaped and large twin swords on Chōjūrō's back should be the 'Twin Swords Hiramekarei ', one of the Seven Ninja Blade of Kirigakure.
It is said that the 'Twin Blades - Hiramekarei ' can release Chakra externally, causing enormous destructive power, and it is a weapon that becomes stronger as the number of enemies killed increases!
Among the seven Ninja Blade, it ranks among the top, comparable to Chakra, which can absorb the enemy's Samehada.
The two guards the Mizukage brought this time are quite troublesome... In the crowd, Danzo in the shadows, quietly retreated with several subordinates, Naoki Senju's gaze also lost its target.
Danzo, this Konoha Crush Plan will be your and Hiruzen Sarutobi's death day! Konoha should not be led by the rotten relics of the old era.
Naoki Senju looked again at Mei Terumi, who had come from afar, and Mei Terumi, sensing something, looked towards where Naoki was.
Their gazes collided in mid-air, sparking not the sparks of love, but the intense fighting spirit!
Neither of them took the so-called alliance seriously. There are no alliances between ninja villages; it's all about life and death! Konoha occupies the richest land, has the most prosperous economy, and even undertakes the most missions. Now, a genius who has awakened Wood Release has emerged.
That would make them enemies of the other four great ninja villages, but Sunagakure is too weak, so they don't plan to involve Sunagakure this time.
After destroying Konoha, the next target will most likely be Sunagakure. Although attacking the Land of Wind and Sunagakure would not bring any benefits, they would definitely not allow Sunagakure to stand by and watch.
When the strongest ninja villages clash, the one that gets hit first is always the weakest Sunagakure.
Among the Five Great Shinobi Villages, the snipe and the clam will not fight each other, but will first kill the fisherman who is watching the show.
Meanwhile, in the desert of the Land of Wind, the Fourth Kazekage Rasa and his group, who were on their way to Konoha, were ambushed by Orochimaru.
" Konoha, the Orochimaru missing-nin, you're the one who wiped out those scouts who recently went missing from the village, aren't you? Who gave you the audacity to provoke Sunagakure all by yourself!"
"Alone? Heh, this time I've brought you an old acquaintance."
Orochimaru chuckled disdainfully, licking his lips with his scarlet tongue, clearly anticipating what was to come.
An old acquaintance? Rasa sensed something was wrong, but he didn't know where Orochimaru's confidence came from. During the Third Shinobi World War, the Third Kazekage mysteriously disappeared, Sunagakure leaderless.
He led Sunagakure in resisting the invasion of Kumogakure. Although Konoha was also resisting the invasion of Kumogakure, the enemy of my enemy is not necessarily my friend, and there were quite a few clashes between Konoha and Sunagakure.
Rasa had fought Orochimaru several times before, but neither of them gained any advantage. The fact that Orochimaru dared to appear alone this time suggests that he has some unknown trump card.
Battles between ninjas are all about intelligence, especially between ninjas of their caliber. The level of understanding they have of their enemy directly affects the outcome of the battle, and even their life or death!
Therefore, Rasa decided to strike first and not give Orochimaru a chance to use his trump cards.
With his right hand outstretched behind his back, the Gold Dust he carried scattered into the desert sands. More Gold Dust, hidden deep underground, was controlled by his Magnet Release. Sensing the quantity was sufficient, Rasa instantly turned hostile and shouted:
" Magnet Release · Gold Dust Spear."
At Orochimaru's feet, a metal spear formed from Gold Dust instantly turned the wicked and imposing Orochimaru into a skewer of snake meat.
"That... solves it?"
Rasa felt a sense of unreality. His old rival, with whom he had fought so many times, was dead just like that, without any explanation?
This is the difference in intelligence between the two sides. Orochimaru knew all about Rasa, including his mastery of Magnet Release and his attack habits...
However, the Orochimaru that Rasa knew was the Orochimaru from more than ten years ago. Back then, Orochimaru was a fairly normal Konoha Ninja, famous for his various Ninjutsu and Summoning Technique, and he didn't know any of the forbidden techniques like the Snake Substitute or the Impure World Reincarnation that he knows now.
The gap in intelligence sealed Rasa's fate.
Orochimaru, skewered like snake meat, had his skin split open in the middle. A perfectly intact Orochimaru, covered in slime, crawled out of the remains, having paid only a negligible amount of Chakra.
"This feels so familiar. Looks like I've added another trump card to my deck: Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu!"
A complex summoning array appeared, and a coffin emerged from the ground. As the coffin lid slowly opened, Rasa gradually saw the person inside and learned just how infuriating and terrifying this so-called Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu Ninjutsu was.
That familiar blue hair and Kazekage robe—who else could it be but his master, the Third Kazekage, the strongest Kazekage in the history of Sunagakure?
"Damn Orochimaru! You murdered the Third Kazekage and toyed with the dead! Today I will slay you here!"